Anytime
Americans are
asked who they
believe to be
one of the
greatest
presidents in
our Nation’s
history, one of
the top three
listed is always
this man,
Abraham Lincoln.
Just the mention
of his name
brings to our
mind’s eye a
tall lean man
wearing that
familiar top
hat, most always
looking quite
serious, and,
sometimes,
almost sad.

But there was a
reason for Mr.
Lincoln's
sadness. He was
President of our
United States
during one of
the saddest
times in our
history, our own
Civil War, when
brother
literally fought
against brother,
and far more
brave Americans
were killed in
that 5 year
period than
during any other
war in our
nation’s
history.

But, why do we
love and admire
Abraham Lincoln
so? And what do
we really know
about him? Well,
first, regarding
Lincoln’s beard
- did you know
that most all
his life Abraham
Lincoln never
wore a beard, or
even any facial
hair at all? He
was clean
shaving. But, in
1860, when
Lincoln was 51
years old and
running for U.S.
President, he
received a
letter from a
little girl
named Grace
Bedell who lived
in Westfield,
New York.

She wrote that
she had seen his
picture and
thought he would
look better with
whiskers. She
promised that if
he would grow a
beard, she would
try her best to
convince her
older brothers,
all Democrats,
to vote for him.
Lincoln wrote
her back a
letter thanking
her for her
interest in his
appearance but
that regarding a
beard he said,
“Do you think
people would
call it a piece
of silly
affection if I
should begin it
now?”

But, Lincoln did
change his mind,
and when he was
elected
President and on
his way to
Washington D.C.
for his
Presidential
inauguration,
interestingly
enough, the
train he was
riding stopped
in Westfield.
Lincoln stepped
out of the train
and inquired as
to where little
Grace Bedell
lived in town.
But, she was
already there,
in the crowd. He
asked her to
come forward to
see that he had
allowed his
whiskers to grow
at her request.
He picked her up
and gave her a
kiss while the
crowd cheered
its approval.
From that day
on, President
Lincoln wore a
beard.

And just how did
Lincoln get the
name honest Abe?
Well, Lincoln’s
first salaried
job was as a
clerk in a
general store.
One day a woman
came into the
store, bought
some goods, laid
down her money,
and left. Later
when Lincoln
counted the
money he found
that she had
paid 6 ½ cents
too much - that
really bothered
him. So that
night after
work, believe it
or not, Abraham
Lincoln walked
four miles to
give the woman
her change. In
all our U.S.
history, there
have been many
politicians who
have called
themselves
“honest”, but
for Abraham
Lincoln, the
name given,
“Honest Abe”,
was all true.

And they say you
can tell more
about the true
character of a
man by asking
his wife. It was
a fact that Mr.
Lincoln was not
a handsome man,
and his wife,
Mary Todd
Lincoln, had
received a
number of
requests for
marriage from
men who were
more handsome
and had much
more in the way
of wealth and
credentials. So,
why did she
marry Lincoln?
When asked, she
said this, “I’d
rather marry a
good man, a man
of mind and
bright prospects
than all the
gold stones in
the world”.

So, what about
that stovepipe
hat? Why did
Lincoln wear
that silk
stovepipe hat?
That story and
other Abe
Lincoln stories
will follow in
next week’s
report. Happy
Birthday Mr.
Lincoln.

In 1970, a song
was released by the rock band, “Chicago”. The song?
“Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” It tells of
a young boy walking down the street and a man asks him
“What time is it?” Later, a woman approaches him, “My
diamond studded watch just stopped cold dead, do you
know what time it is?”

The message? We’re all rushing around, doing stuff, but
getting very little of real substance done. Does anybody
know what time it is? It’s time to wake up. To shake off
our apathy, our selfish lack of concern. It’s time to
pray.